Fuel-heater.



F. McjCURTAIN.

run HEATER. I V APPLICATION EIL ED SEPT-B. i914. I 1,280,787. v Patented ocn s', 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK MGCUBTAIN, 01E SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

EUEL-HEATEB Specification of Letters LPatent.

Application filed September 8, 191-1. Serial No. 880,788

Beit known that I, FRANK MGCUBTAIN,

a time; Or the United States, residing at Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake and State of Uteh, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in FueLHeatere, ct which. the following is a specification. This invention relates to improvements in fuel heaters. The obiect of this invention is to provide a device for initial heating of the fuel to eidin starting a motor, such as a gee e'ln gine.

. In coid Weather, or in the use of fuel of a high vaporizing point, considerable difficulty .ispxperienced in starting a gas engine and it is the object of'my invention to obviate the diflioultics ordinarily met with and ren der the starting comparativeli easy.

I attain these objects by eating, preferably by an electrical heating element, a supply of the fuel, causing heated vapor to A be created and when the en me is turned p as connections.

over this va or is supplied irectly to the V intake mani old or cylinder element and from thence to the engine; Being inaheated and vaporized condition the fdel is readily and-starting is rendered easy. ,I

have described one embodiment of my in nates generally'my ffiel container, or tan comprising a hollow tube or container 1.0"

threaded at the top and by numerals 10.

A- bottom cap 11 bottom, as indicated a" 4 i i I rovided with an .en-

larg'ed head 11 three ed at 11" is located below the container 10 End is attached thereto by m'eins ofthe threaded coupling 12, as

"shown Fig; 1'. This coupling is formed with a web or tired partition 12 centrally agar-- t 12 A valve seat 12* is" located thetop of the aperture 12" and be- 16kt .time"'is mi i n.12 depends the boss 12* V centrally apertured at 12% Passages 152.. are I formed the boss 12 and" lead, from the aperture 12.

Patented oer. 8, 1913; I

A valve 13 is provided adapted to'beat upon the seat 12. This valve is formed with 1 a depending stem 13 slidably mounted in the aperture 12. At its lower end the stein 13 carries the collar 13 and a coiled spring 14 is located between the bottom of the boss 12 and the collar 13" operating to maintain the'valve 13 in position" normally preventing flow through the aperture 12", as will be apparent. v r

An elbow member 15 is-provided, the same havin an internally threaded flange 15 threa ed on the threaded portion 10 of con tainer 10. This elbow member is provided withthe aperture 15" and valve seat 15" therearound. Above the aperture 15 is l0- cated the chamber 15 and leading therefrom is the passage 15. vided with the threaded extremity 15' adaptand; held in retaining position by the nut The elbow .15 is -proed to be threaded into an intake manifold. 16 v I 17. At its upper portion the-elbow 15 is: I

apertured and internally threaded at 15' and the plug 18 isthreaded thereinto. This pin is provided with the aperture 18 in Whic is slidably mounted the stem 19' and valve 19, the latter servingto close the aperture 15 when seated on the seat 15f, as will be apparent. The plug 18 is further provided with. the chamber 18 internally threaded ad jacent its upper portion. A cap 20 is threaded into engagement with the top ofplug 518,.

a coiled spring 21 being rovidcd, the letter extending between the co lar 19 on stem19f and the cap 20." latter is provided with a slot 20 at its upper portion whereby it may be engaged by a screw-driver, or @the I As is apparent this cap 20 may bet hkc. screweddown or'upin the plug. 18 to regu. late the tension of the 2 The tube, or container, '10 is rovided witha air of apertures 10 adjacent the WP and land in these 8Jpertures--,gre mountedgfluid tightinsuiatingbnshings22 rovidedi with,

the binding 'posts 22. An eectrical heat ttoin thermf in the wall thereof,

ing, or reslstance, element 23 extends from,

.the' upper to the lower of bushings 22 and isjl'ocated; in the chamber 10" v,

s 23 leading from a siritable source ofcurrenbsuch as a bat y ere-connected to the tcnninalsorbinding posts 22, as is diagrammaticallyindicated Fi "ii Iii I r thecircuit comprising wires 23' is coated a -pushb-utton or switch] 25, whichma-y be operated to close the circuit, whereupon a curfor engagement with the carburetor, or other fuel supply. I

In the use of my device when it is desired to start the gas engine to which it is applied,

for example, the push-button 25 isoperated to close t e circuit comprising wires 23 and battery 24. This causes the wire 23 to become heated, and assun'iing that there is a supply of fuel in the chamber 10, the same will become heated and heated vapor will be created. The engine may then be turned over and the expanded vaporwill raise valve 19 from its seat 1! and permit the heated vapor to flow through duct 15 into the intake manifold 16 and from thence into the engine cylinders, enabling the ready starting of the engine. When the same has started, or when desired, the push-button 25 maybe released, whereupon the fluid fuel in the container 10 will cool and the valve 1.9 will. seat, allowing the engine to draw its fuel in the regular manner from the carbureter or similar device. As the fluid 'in' the container l0 cools the vapor becomes condensed and rarefied and a partial vacuum is set up in the container 10. This operates to raise the valve 13 from its seatand permits additional fuel to low through the aperture 12* into the container 10 and the same is in condition for the next starting effort.

It will be apparent that my device is simple and yet effective in operation, at the same time being susceptible of modifications and changes and consequently I do not wish to be restricted to theform shown or de-.

scribed beyond the scope of the appended claims. I

I claim': c

1. A priming device for gas engines com prising a fuel chamber, means to heat the fuel in said chamber, said 'clnunber being provided with an outlet, and means to normally prevent the flow through said outlet, said means being operable by pressure upon heating of the fuel therein to permit [low of heated "furl t-lu-rcthrough.

2. A priming device for gas engines (TORI- prising a fuel chamber, means to heat the fuel in said chamber, said chamber being provided with an outlet, means to normallv prevent the {low througlrsaid outlet, said means being operable by pressure upon heating of the fuel therein to permit flow of device being sired, said valve being operable upon such heating and during the operation of said engine to permit the heated fuel to pass through said duct mcn'iber to said engine.

4. In combination with a gas engine havin; av fuel supply duct, adevice of the class described comprising a fuel container providcd u ith a chamber, means to vaporize the fuel in said (.l1tlli1 ,i(l ,'S\l(l device being further provided with an outlet duct adapted to communicat with said engine. means to normally preventflow through said outlet, said means being operable by gas pressure upon operation of said heating means to permit flow of heated fuel through said outlet, said device being provided with an inlet arranged to supply fuel to said chamber, and means to normally prevent said supply of fuel.

A priming device for gas engines comprising a fuel chamber and an outlet leading therefrom, means to heat the fuel in said cliamber, and a valve normally closing said outlet, said valve being operable by pressure upon heating of said fuel to permit flow element located therein and anoutlet leading therefrom, a valve normally closing said outlet. and means to normally maintain said valve in. closing position, said valve being operable by pressureto permit flow through said outlet. when said electric heating clementis utilized to heat the fuel in said container.

8. A device of the class described compris ing a fuel chaml'ier. an electric heating eleucnt located therein and an outlet leading therefrom, a valve normally closing said ou-tlet, and means to normally maintain said valve in closing position, said valve being operable bvprcssure to permit flow through said outlet when said electric hcating ele inlet: ductarin element located therein and connected to said terminals, said device being provided with an outlet duct and an inlet duct, a valve larrangcd to close said outlet duct, and a spring coacting with said valve to normally maintain the same in closing position, said valve being operable to permit flow through said outlet when said heating element is utilized to heat the fuel in said container.

10. A device of the class described coinprising a fuel container, electric terminals mounted in said container, an electric heating element located therein and connected to said terminals, said device being provided with an outlet duct and an inlet duct, a vlave arranged to close said outlet duct, a spring coacting with said valve to normally maintain the same in closing position, said valve being operable to permit flow through said outlet when said heating element is utilized thcrethrough,

e other end of said cylinder and toheat the'fucl in said container, a valve for said inlet duct, and a 8 ring normally maintaining the same in c osing position, said valve being operable to permitflow of fuel into said container when suflicient vacuum obtains therein.

11. A device of the class described comprising a fuel containing cylinder, an electric heating element located in said cylinder, a cap member attached to one end or said cylinder and provided with: a assago a second ca mein or attached to t also provided with a passage therethrough, valves normally'closing said passages, the one being 0 erable to permit "flow of fuel into said cy inder upon reduction in pressure therein, and the other being operable to permit va or or heated fuel to flow out of said cylin er.

In testimony whereof I have subscribed my name.

FRANK MCCURTAIN.

-lVitnesses Enw. Knnmmtn, F. HARPSTER. 

